Did Obama really say 'its just political talk' about changing NAFTA?

[Seeker30]

Wow, no wonder Hillary said he is just speech.

[SoonerPride]

1. No. The Canadian goverment is trying to ensure a right wing winner.

It's all lies.

Read up on the dirty tricks.

Our neigbors to the North are behind this subterfuge.

[Seeker30]

4. Oh, so the Canadian govt is lying

Damn, you people will say anything to defend your boy.

[featherman]

22. Right wing mischief... and you fall for it 'cause it helps" HRC

[doublethink]

2. Debunked. n.t.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. To quote Hillary Clinton, "nice post, Hitler."

[Pirate Smile]

5. No, he didn't but you aren't supposed to actually want to know the truth. Just buy the Clinton BS.

[Seeker30]

7. Clinton BS? Came from Associated Press

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-usobam045601121mar04,0,993467.story

On Sunday, the Associated Press released a leaked memo from a Canadian Consulate official in Chicago saying that in a Feb. 8 meeting, Obama's senior economic policy adviser told him Obama's tough NAFTA stance was "more about political posturing than a clear articulation of policy plans."

[melody]

8. Let's see, to choose -- the wife of the man who drove NAFTA into existence OR the other Democrat?

Gosh, I think I'll take the other Democrat.

I don't give a damn about some useless backroom discussion.

[Seeker30]

11. You don't give a damn? Nice

Who cares what Obama says to get elected, just as long as he's elected...wooohoo!

[melody]

16. When we're talking about electing the GOP instead? Damn straight n/t

[OzarkDem]

12. I believe the Canadian government

they're the ones who provided the evidence.

[melody]

20. Fine, as I said, I'll take Obama over Clinton simply because she advocated for it in the first place

As has been said, you can't claim the good parts of the Clinton legacy without embracing the bad.

[stillcool]

15. what ever...

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080303.NAFTA03/TPStory/National
CROSS-BORDER PARTISANSHIP
Harper meddling in U.S. primaries, Democrats say

BRIAN LAGHI

OTTAWA BUREAU CHIEF

March 3, 2008

Two years after U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins was accused of meddling in Canada's federal election, the same is being said of Stephen Harper's Conservatives with respect to the current U.S. contest.
--------------

At issue are reports that members of Mr. Harper's prime ministerial office leaked word last week that a member of Barack Obama's campaign told a Canadian diplomat that Mr. Obama was not serious when he raised the possibility of renegotiating the free-trade agreement.


The Globe and Mail

That statement has become fodder for Mr. Obama's opponents, who have accused the Illinois senator of saying one thing to win votes in hard-pressed states such as Ohio, and another to keep the peace with the Canadian government.

ABC News says the leaker was Mr. Harper's chief of staff, Ian Brodie. Mr. Brodie reportedly learned of the conversation -which took place between Mr. Obama's economic adviser and a Canadian diplomat in Chicago - from Michael Wilson, Canada's ambassador to the United States.

One of the talk show's Republican participants, Mary Matalin, used the apparent flip-flop to attack the Democratic candidates - Mr. Obama and Hillary Clinton - who have said they would reopen NAFTA.

"Then he had that Canadian thing where "I'm saying this, but I mean that,' " Ms. Matalin said.

Ms. Matalin is a well-known Republican strategist, having worked for both George Bush Jr. and Sr. and for Vice-President Dick Cheney.

Mr. Obama's team has repeatedly denied that such a conversation took place.

Opposition MPs said it appears obvious to them that the Harper Tories want the Republicans to win and that they have taken steps to help them to do so.

The Harper government may find itself in hot water should the presidential winner be a Democrat, they said.

"This is serious," said Navdeep Baines, the Liberal Party's trade critic.

"If there's a perception there of interference, I think it will definitely put a strain on our relationship in the future."

The brouhaha is somewhat reminiscent of the 2006 election, when Mr. Wilkins lashed back at then-prime-minister Paul Martin for his criticisms of the United States and was criticized for interfering.

For its part, the federal government is saying that there were no calls between itself and any staff members of a campaign team.

The Canadian embassy says on its website that "at no time has any member of a Presidential campaign called the Canadian Ambassador or any official at the Embassy to discuss NAFTA."

Mr. Harper's communications director, Sandra Buckler, said Mr. Brodie also doesn't remember such a conversation.

"Ian Brodie does not recall discussing this matter and at the end of the day Ambassador Wilson issued a statement and we stand by that statement," Ms. Buckler said.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

6. He Very Well Might Have.

The words in the memo absolutely seem to indicate that someone in his campaign felt that to be his position. Now whether or not that was simply that person's perspective of Obama's position, or whether it was in fact an official behind the scenes message from Obama, is unknown. But those saying it's been 'debunked' are just wishing it would go away, since it's been far from being debunked. Ignore those types of ignorant posts.

[stillcool]

19. has anyone published the memo?

there seems to be a lot of confusion about what Mary Matalin charged, and what took place, as it relates to the "Canadian Government". I would surely like some clarity on this.

[democrattotheend]

21. The adviser was not at the meeting representing the campaign

I don't even think Obama knew the meeting had taken place when this story broke last week.

There is no recording of the conversation, so we don't know whether the adviser said it or not, but either way, he was not sent there by the campaign and was not representing the official campaign line on it.

It should also be noted that the original CTV story said Clinton's campaign had indirectly given similar assurances to the Canadians.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

23. Just Because He Wasn't Officially Sent By Them, Does Not Mean He Doesn't Know Their Stance, Or

didn't receive it as a behind the scenes message.

Fact is, we just don't know.

[Justyce]

9. You won't get an unbiased answer here... nt

[OzarkDem]

10. True, its disturbing

and what many of us expected of him.

[shifting_sands]

13. Spend some time getting the real story

The Canadian Embassy and the Canada have already said it isn't true, that isn't what was said and they apologized for the story. The Canadian PM Harper is being accused in Canada of deliberately trying to influence the politics of the US and there is a story out today that the story came from McCain's camp (that's not confirmed)The whole thing was a set up and timed perfectly.

Sadly, this campaign is devolving into the same lies and nasty campaigning we keep saying we don't want in this country. Well we do. We don't check anything for the truth of a situation we don't question the people who spread false rumors, we just take them at their word. We love lies and nastiness in our politics and that's how the Karl Roves of the world flourish and how better than half of the country never bother to vote. The political playbook is "throw trash against the wall and see what sticks" Elections shouldn't be about "trash" they should be about the people, but I guess if the people are about "trash" so too will elections.

[Joanne98]

14. Yes!

[democrattotheend]

17. No. Obama himself said nothing of the kind

It is possible that one of his advisers said something along those lines in a meeting that was solicited by the Canadians. He was not sent to meet with them by the campaign.

There is no hard proof that he said anything of the kind, and it should be noted that the original CTV story said that Clinton's aides had also indirectly given similar assurances to Ottowa.

[dflprincess]

18. I don't know what to make of this story

What I am surprised by is the number of people who are willing to take the word of the Candidan government as to whether it's true or not. Seven years of Bush and they haven't learned that governments lie?

[LisaM]

24. Someone from Obama's camp DID say something

It was on the Canadian news last night (which I'm sure all of you who care about this watched).

[BigDDem]

25. No! and there was no meeting...

uh, wait, ok, there was a meeting
but....

Thank goodness for "CHANGE!"

[FreeJoe]

26. Honestly...

I think that neither one will do much about NAFTA. It's just like the Republicans on immigration. The base churns for change, but the leadership recognizes that the economic impact of ditching NAFTA or seriously reducing immigration will be too painful. Instead, our parties and leaders say the things that they think will make us happy, but they don't really intend to do anything about it.

After all the damage to our international relationships Bush has caused by reneging on treaties, do you seriously think that a new Democratic leader is going to start their term by adding more to that list?